Portable vehicle and/or equipment storm shield

ABSTRACT

A vehicle and/or equipment storm shield is provided as having a spool of membrane material, which may be relatively quickly un-spooled to provide a sheet of membrane material operative to substantially enclose the vehicle and/or equipment for protecting the vehicle and/or equipment from wind, rain and/or flying debris associated with storming conditions. In a similar manner, the vehicle and/or equipment storm shield may also be adapted to protect computers, generators, communications equipment and the like, from damage due to storming weather conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable vehicle and/or equipment stormshield and more particularly to a portable vehicle and/or equipmentstorm shield that permits users to substantially enclose the vehicleand/or equipment for minimizing any damage thereto from flying sand ordebris associated with storming conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, there is an increasing trend to deploy military planes,helicopters, trucks and/or equipment (collectively referred to as“equipment”) to desert terrain areas of the world. These desert terrainareas commonly have relatively violent wind and sand storms, whichtypically occur with little or no warning. These wind and sand stormstypically produce flying sand swirls and/or other flying debris, whichcan damage equipment. In particular, the flying sand and/or other debrishas a tendency to stick to various machinery and other moving parts ofthe equipment causing equipment failure or severely reducing the lifeexpectancy of the equipment.

One solution for protecting equipment from storming conditions is topark or otherwise store the equipment in storage hangers, bunkers orwarehouses prior to the occurrence of storms. However, as describedabove, these storms typically occur with little or no warning and due tothe relative geographic location of the equipment with respect to thehangers, bunkers or warehouses, it may not be possible to store theequipment in the hangers, bunkers or warehouses before any stormstrikes.

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a storm protective devicethat overcomes the aforesaid and other disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicle and/or equipment incorporatingthe storm shield with a highly portable and efficient structure whichmay be relatively quickly deployed to substantially enclose the vehicleand/or equipment for protecting the vehicle and/or equipment from wind,rain and/or flying debris associated with storming conditions. While thevehicle and/or equipment storm shield is primarily shown and describedin conjunction with a vehicle and a helicopter, it should be understoodthat the vehicle and/or equipment storm shield may be incorporated intoa number of other vehicles or equipment, including but not limited togenerators, HVAC units, computers, satellites, radar systems,maintenance equipment, and the like, as will become apparent below.

In an aspect of the present invention, the equipment storm shieldincludes an elongated base having a top surface and a bottom surfaceadapted for coupling to the equipment. An elongated spool support memberis mounted on the top surface of the base and includes a top surfacehaving an elongated concave surface. An elongated spool housing ismounted on the concave surface of the spool support member and includesan elongated hollow interior portion accessible via an elongatedopening. The elongated opening extends along a longitudinal edge regionof the spool housing. A first spool of flexible membrane material isrotatably mounted in the hollow interior portion of the spool housingand includes a first longitudinal edge (e.g., leading edge)substantially aligned with the opening located on the spool housing. Thefirst longitudinal edge of the first spool of flexible membrane materialmay be pulled through the opening to remove a first predetermined sheetportion of membrane material from the first spool of flexible membranematerial. This first predetermined sheet portion of material isconstructed and arranged as a barrier for protecting the equipmentagainst predetermined storm conditions.

In another aspect of the present invention, set forth is an equipmentstorm shield system. The equipment storm shield system includes anequipment pad area adapted to provide a parking area for the equipment(e.g., helicopter). The equipment storm shield system further includes aplurality of anchor devices, which are located along a first portion ofa perimeter of the pad area. An elongated spool of flexible membranematerial rotatably mounted in a spool housing is mounted on a secondportion of the perimeter of the pad area. An elongated opening locatedon the spool housing is adapted to permit a first longitudinal edge(i.e., leading edge) of the spool of flexible membrane material to bepulled through the opening to remove a first predetermined sheet portionof membrane material from the spool of flexible membrane material. Inoperation, the first predetermined sheet portion of membrane material ispulled over the equipment parked on the pad area and is retained inposition using one or more of the plurality of anchoring devices forpermitting the first predetermined sheet portion of membrane material toserve as a barrier from storming conditions and for protecting theequipment against damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of this invention, as well as the inventionitself, may be more fully understood from the following description ofthe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle incorporating an equipment storm shield of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the equipment storm shield of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the equipment storm shield of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an anchoring device employed on the equipmentstorm shield of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the anchoring device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the coupling of flexible membrane material associated withequipment storm shield of FIG. 1 with flexible membrane materialassociated with another similarly constructed equipment storm shield;

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show front and side views of four equipmentstorm shields mounted on a roof-top of a vehicle and which are deployedto substantially enclose the vehicle for protecting the vehicle fromstorming conditions;

FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show a frontal and rear view of an equipmentstorm shield system in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 11 shows the equipment storm shield of FIGS. 9 and 10, which isdeployed to substantially enclose a helicopter for protecting thehelicopter from storming conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is one embodiment of a vehicle 10incorporating an equipment storm shield 12 in accordance with principlesof the present invention. With this arrangement, an operator can deploythe equipment storm shield 12 to substantially enclose the vehicle 10for minimizing any damage to the vehicle from storming conditions, suchas rain, wind, snow, sleet, flying debris (e.g., sand), which will bedescribed below is further detail.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 collectively, shown is one embodiment of theequipment storm shield 12, which for exemplary purposes can be mountedon the vehicle 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The equipment storm shield 12includes an elongated base 14 having a top surface 14 a and a bottomsurface 14 b. The base 14 may be formed of a number of relatively softand compliant materials, such as rubber, plastic and/or polymercomposite materials, all of which are suitable for permitting the bottomsurface 14 b of the base 14 to be securely attached to the vehicle 10.The bottom surface 14 b of the base 14 may be attached to the vehicle 10using various fastening mechanisms, such as screws 16 a, 16 b and/oradhesives (not shown).

The equipment storm shield 12 further includes an elongated spoolsupport member 18 having a top surface 18 a and a bottom surface 18 b.The bottom surface 18 b of spool support member 18 is substantiallyaligned and mounted on the top surface 14 a of the base 14. The topsurface 18 a of the spool support member 18 includes an elongatedconcave surface, which is shaped to accept and securely support anelongated spool housing 20. The spool housing 20 includes a hollowinterior portion 22, which is accessible via an elongated opening 24that extends along a longitudinal edge region of the spool housing 20.

A spool of flexible membrane material 26 is rotatably mounted in thehollow interior portion 22 of the spool housing 20. The spool offlexible membrane material 26 includes a first longitudinal edge 28,which is substantially aligned with the opening 24 located on the spoolhousing 20. In this arrangement, an operator may pull the firstlongitudinal edge of the spool of flexible membrane material 26 throughthe opening 24 for removing a first predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial 26 a from the spool of flexible membrane material 26, whichincludes a length and width respectively represented in FIG. 3 by theterms, “L” and “W”.

In an exemplary embodiment, the spool housing 20 includes a springloaded tension mechanism 30 adapted to provide a predetermined springforce to the spool of flexible membrane material 26, which is rotatablymounted in the spool housing 20, to permit the spool of flexiblemembrane material 26 to retract the first predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial 26 a after use. In the event that the spring loaded tensionmechanism 30 fails or in lieu of the spring loaded tension mechanism,the spool housing may be provided with a manual hand cranking mechanism25. The manual hand cranking mechanism 25 may be coupled to the spool offlexible membrane material 26 so that manual rotation of the handcranking mechanism 25 is transposed to the spool of flexible membranematerial 26, which may also permit the spool of flexible membranematerial 26 to retract the first predetermined sheet portion 26 a ofmaterial after use.

In addition, the spool housing 20 may include a pivotably mounted accessdoor 32 that operates to seal the opening 24 located on the spoolhousing 20 when the equipment storm shield 12 is not in use. The accessdoor 32 may be retained in a closed position using a retaining mechanism(not shown), such as a spring or a latch.

The spool of flexible membrane material 26, which is mounted in thespool housing 20, may include a plurality of natural and/or syntheticfabrics, cloths and materials that are constructed to be breathable, ornot, depending on the intended application of the equipment storm shield12. For example, although not specifically shown, if the equipment stormshield 12 is intended to be mounted on equipment, such as a generator,uninterruptible power supply desktop computer systems or other equipmentthat may require the expulsion of heat and or other vapors from time totime, the spool of flexible membrane material may be constructed of abreathable material. Similarly, if the equipment storm shield 12 isintended to be mounted on equipment that may house people, which requireoxygen to breathe, the spool of flexible membrane material 26 may alsobe constructed of a breathable material. In an exemplary embodiment, thespool of flexible membrane material may include a plurality ofbreathable materials including, but limited to: cloth, canvas, and/orother airpermeable but water-impermeable materials such as that sold bW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. under the trademark GORE-TEX. In addition,the spool of flexible membrane material may include Natural or syntheticmaterials, Knitted or woven materials, which can be coated, chemicallytreated or laminated with predetermined materials to control airpermeability and/or water repellency.

On the other hand, if the equipment storm shield 12 is intended to bemounted on equipment that does not require ventilation, such as ahelicopter or other aircraft, as will be described in further detailbelow in connection with other embodiments of the present invention, theflexible membrane material 26 may be constructed of a non-breathablematerial. In an exemplary embodiment, the spool of flexible membranematerial 26 may include a plurality of non-breathable materialsincluding, but limited to: nylon, plastics and polymers. In addition,the spool of flexible membrane material may include Natural or syntheticmaterials, Knitted or woven materials, which can be coated, chemicallytreated or laminated with predetermined materials to control airpermeability and/or water repellency.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 collectively, shown is a side view and a topview, respectively, of an anchoring mechanism 40 incorporated on theequipment storm shield 12 of the present invention. The anchoringmechanism 40, as described below in detail, is adapted for retaining orotherwise anchoring the first longitudinal edge 28 of the spool offlexible membrane material 26 on a ground surface 42 located apredetermined horizontal distance from the equipment for which theequipment storm shield 12 is mounted on. In an embodiment, the anchoringmechanism 40 includes an angle bracket 44 having a base 44 a portion anda support portion 44 b. The base portion 44 a includes a plurality ofopenings 46 that are each dimensioned to accept an anchor spike 48 oranchor sand screw (not shown) therethrough. Each anchor spike 48 isoperative to securely retain the base portion 44 a of the angle bracket44 in a predetermined position of the ground surface 42. In theexemplary embodiment, the base portion 44 a of the angle bracket 44includes three opening which are each adapted for accepting one of threeanchor spikes. It should be understood, however, that additionalopenings 46 (e.g., two, three or more) or fewer openings 46 (e.g., asingle opening) and associated anchor spike(s) 48 may be employed toretain the angle bracket 44 in the predetermined position.

The base portion 44 a of the angle bracket 44 may further include areleasable attachment mechanism 50 adapted to engage and securely retainthe first longitudinal edge 28 of the spool of flexible membranematerial 26. In an embodiment, the releasable attachment mechanism 50may include at least one of, but not limited to: hook and loop fastenerssuch as that sold under the trademark Velcro and snaps. It should beunderstood that the releasable attachment mechanism 50, as providedabove, is provided for exemplary purposes and that there is a pluralityof other releasable attachment mechanisms not specifically describedherein that may be used in conjunction with the base portion 44 a of theangle bracket 44 for retaining the first longitudinal edge 28 of thespool of flexible membrane material 26 in the predetermined position onthe ground surface 42.

The support portion 44 b of the angle bracket 44 is adapted to support asegment of the first predetermined portion 26 a of the flexible membranematerial 26 at a predetermined angle from the base portion 44 a of theangle bracket 40. The predetermined angle for which the support portion44 b of the angle bracket 44 supports the first predetermined portion 26a of the flexible membrane material 26 is represented by the angle Ø inFIG. 4, which is formed between the base portion 44 a and the supportportion 44 b of the angle bracket 44. The angle of Ø may be adjusted forproviding a corresponding adjustment to the angle for which the supportportion 44 b of the angle bracket 44 supports the first predeterminedportion 26 a of the flexible membrane material 26. For example, duringrelatively strong winds associated with storming conditions, it may bedesirable to decrease the angle Ø formed between the base portion 44 aand support portion 44 b of the angle bracket 44 and to relativelyincrease the longitudinal horizontal distance defined between the anglebracket 44 and the vehicle 10 and/or equipment which carries theequipment storm shield 12. In this arrangement, the relatively strongwinds associated with the storming conditions may be more graduallydeflected from the vehicle 10 and/or equipment which carries the stormshield 12 and also reduce the likelihood of angle bracket 44 failureresulting in the collapse of the first predetermined portion of theflexible membrane material 26 a.

In another example, during relatively light winds associated withstorming conditions, it may be desirable to increase the angle Ø formedbetween the base portion 44 a and support portion 44 b of the anglebracket 44 and to relatively decrease the longitudinal horizontaldistance defined between the angle bracket 44 and the vehicle 10 and/orequipment which carries the equipment storm shield 12. In thisarrangement, the relatively light winds associated with the stormingconditions may be more quickly deflected from the vehicle 10 and/orequipment which carries the storm shield 12, while at the same timeminimizing the overall foot-print or space occupied by the firstpredetermined portion 26 a of the flexible membrane material 26. In anembodiment, the angle Ø formed between the base and support portions 44a, 44 b of the angle bracket 40 range from approximately 15-degrees toapproximately 75-degrees.

Although the anchoring mechanism 40 has been shown and describedhereinabove with reference to an angle bracket 44, it should beunderstood that a number of other anchoring mechanisms not specificallyshown herein may also be employed to retain the first predeterminedsheet portion 26 a of the flexible membrane 26 on the ground surface 42at a predetermined horizontal distance from the equipment which carriesthe vehicle and/or equipment storm shield 12 of the present invention.For example, the anchoring mechanism 40 may include an anchoring systemthat is permanently mounted in a trench, as disclosed in commonly ownedU.S. Pat. No. 6,088,975, entitled, Hurricane Protection for Mobile Homesand Small Buildings, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

Referring now to FIG. 6, shown is a frontal edge view of the firstpredetermined sheet portion of material 26 a, which is extracted orotherwise pulled from the spool of flexible membrane material 26, asrepresented in FIG. 3. In FIG. 6, the first predetermined sheet portionof material 26 a includes a first adjacent edge 26 b adapted forcoupling to a second adjacent edge 27 b of a second predetermined sheetportion of material 27 a, which is extracted or otherwise pulled from asecond spool of flexible membrane material (not shown). Although thesecond spool of flexible membrane material is not specifically shown, itshould be understood that the second spool of flexible membrane materialis similarly constructed and arranged as the first spool of flexiblemembrane material 26 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3).

In the exemplary embodiment, the first adjacent edge 26 b of the firstpredetermined sheet portion of material 26 a, which is associated withthe first spool of membrane material 26, includes a first zipper portion26 d, an upper flap 26 e and a lower flap 26 f. The first zipper portion26 d is adapted to engage a second zipper portion 27 c located on thesecond adjacent edge 27 b of the second predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial 27 a, which is associated with the second spool of membranematerial. The upper flap 26 e and the lower flap 26 f each include hookand loop fastener portions 26 g, 26 h that are constructed and arrangedto engage hook and loop fastener portions 27 d, 27 e located on thesecond adjacent edge 27 b of the second predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial 27 a. In this arrangement, the first and second predeterminedsheet portions of material 26 a, 27 a, respectively associated with thefirst 26 and second (not shown) spools of membrane material may becoupled together.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the exemplary embodiment, first, second,third and fourth vehicle and/or equipment storm shields 12 a, 12 b, 12c, 12 d are each mounted along one edge of a roof-top of the vehicle 10.It should be understood that each of the first, second, third and fourthvehicle and/or equipment storm shields 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d aresimilarly constructed and (arranged as the vehicle and/or equipmentstorm shield 12, as shown and described above in conjunction with FIGS.1-6. In this arrangement, the first, second, third and fourth vehicleand/or equipment storm shields 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d may be deployed torespectively provide first, second, third and fourth sheet membraneportions 26 a′, 26 a″, 26 a′″, 26 a″″, which are each anchored to theground surface a predetermined horizontal distance from the vehicle 10using the anchoring mechanism 40, as described above. In addition, thefirst, second, third and fourth sheet membrane portions 26 a′, 26 a″, 26a′″, 26 a″″ are coupled together, as also described above (e.g. see FIG.6), to substantially enclose the vehicle 10 for protecting the vehicle10 from wind, snow, rain and/or flying debris (e.g., sand) duringstorming conditions.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively shown is a frontal viewand a rear view of an equipment storm shield system 100 in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Theequipment storm shield system 100 includes an equipment pad area 110which is adapted to provide parking for the equipment. In an embodiment,the equipment pad area 110 may be formed of a concrete or asphalt slabthat is dimensioned and marked to permit a helicopter, vehicle and/orplane, as well as a plurality of other devices and/or equipment, such asmobile or stationary computer systems, generators and/or power supplies(hereinafter collectively referred to as “equipment 112”) to be parkedor otherwise positioned in a predetermined location on the pad area 110.

The equipment storm shield system 100 further includes a plurality ofanchoring devices 114, which are located along a first portion of aperimeter of the pad area 110. In an embodiment, each of the anchoringdevices 114 includes a metal frame member 114 a that is permanentlymounted in a trench 114 b. The metal frame member 114 a is constructedand arranged to form an opening 114 c, which is adapted to accept acorresponding engagement member 114 d (FIG. 11) that is attached to aleading edge region 116 a of the first predetermined sheet portion ofmembrane material 118 a (as well to a leading edge region 116 b of asecond predetermined sheet portion of membrane material 118 b), as willbe described in further detail below in connection with FIG. 11.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the equipment storm shield system 100further includes an elongated spool of flexible membrane material 120rotatably mounted in a spool housing 122. The spool housing 122 may bemounted on a ground surface 124 in a location defined by a secondportion of the perimeter of the pad area 110. In this arrangement, thefirst portion of the perimeter of the pad area 110 including theanchoring devices 114 and the second portion of the perimeter of the padarea 110 including the spool housing 122 operate to substantiallyencircle the pad area 110. An elongated opening 126 located on the spoolhousing 122 permits the leading edge region 116 a of the spool offlexible membrane material 120 to be pulled through the opening 126 toremove the first predetermined sheet portion of membrane material 118 afrom the spool of flexible membrane material 120.

Referring further to FIG. 11, during use, the first predetermined sheetportion of membrane material 118 a is pulled over the equipment 112parked on the pad area 110 and is retained in position using one or moreof the plurality of anchor devices 114. More particularly and as brieflymentioned above, after the first predetermined sheet portion of membranematerial 118 a is pulled over the equipment 112 parked on the pad area110, one or more of a number of engagement members 114 d, which are eachuniformly spaced and attached to the leading edge region 116 a of thefirst predetermined sheet portion of membrane material 118 a (as well asto the leading edge region 116 b of the second predetermined sheetportion of membrane material 118 b), are engaged to a correspondinganchoring devices 114 d located on the ground surface 124. Thereafter,the spool of membrane material 120 contained in the spool housing 122may be rotated to reel-in any excess slack in the first predeterminedsheet portion of membrane material 118 a for which the firstpredetermined sheet portion of membrane material 118 a may now serve asa barrier for protecting the equipment 112 against predeterminedstorming condition.

In addition, the first predetermined sheet portion of membrane material118 a includes a first adjacent edge 118 a′ (e.g. front edge) that isadapted for coupling to a top edge region 118 b′ of the second portionof flexible membrane material 118 b in a similar manner as shown anddescribed above in detail with respect to FIG. 6. The second portion offlexible membrane material 118 b also includes a number of engagementmembers 114 d, which are each uniformly spaced and attached to theleading or bottom edge region 116 b of the second portion of flexiblemembrane material 118 b. The engagement members 114 d attached to theleading or bottom edge region 116 b of the second portion of flexiblemembrane material 118 b may be each engaged to a corresponding anchoringdevice 114 located on the ground surface 124, as similarly describedabove. In this arrangement, the second portion of flexible membranematerial 118 b is employed to substantially enclose a front end portionof the equipment 112 (e.g., helicopter) parked or otherwise positionedon the equipment pad area 110.

Although not specifically shown, it should be understood that the firstpredetermined sheet portion of membrane material 118 a similarlyincludes a second adjacent edge (e.g. rear edge) that is adapted forcoupling to a top edge region of a third portion of flexible membranematerial in a similar manner as shown and described above in detail withrespect to FIG. 6. The third portion of flexible membrane material issimilarly constructed and arranged as the second portion of flexiblemembrane material 118 b and also includes a number of engagementmembers, which are each uniformly spaced and attached to a bottom edgeregion of the third portion of flexible membrane material. Theengagement members attached to the bottom edge region of the thirdportion of flexible membrane material may be each engaged to acorresponding anchoring device 114 located on the ground surface 124. Inthis arrangement, the third portion of flexible membrane material isemployed to substantially enclose a rear end portion of the equipment112 parked or otherwise positioned on the equipment pad area 110.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the vehicle and/or equipment stormshield 12 and/or system 100 have been shown and described hereinabove inconnection with a vehicle 10 (e.g., a Humm-Vee) and equipment (e.g. ahelicopter), it should be understood that the storm and/or equipmentshield 12 and/or system 100 can also be similarly employed to protect aplurality of other vehicles, equipment and structures from damage due tostorming conditions. For example, the storm and/or equipment shield 12and/or system 100 can be employed, as described above, to protect aplurality of other vehicles, equipment and structures from damage due tostorming conditions, such as, but not limited to, trucks, trains, jets,generators, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), computers, electronicequipment, radar systems and the like, while at the same time beinghighly portable.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will nowbecome apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that otherembodiments incorporating their concepts may be used. It is felttherefore that these embodiments should not be limited to disclosedembodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. All publications and references cited herein areexpressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1. An equipment storm shield, comprising: an elongated base having a topsurface and a bottom surface adapted for coupling to at least one pieceof equipment; an elongated spool support member having a bottom surfacemounted on the top surface of the base and a top surface having anelongated concave surface; an elongated spool housing mounted on theconcave surface of the spool support member and including an elongatedhollow interior portion accessible via an elongated opening extendingalong a longitudinal edge region of the spool housing; a first spool offlexible membrane material rotatably mounted in the hollow interiorportion of the spool housing and having a first longitudinal edgesubstantially aligned with the opening located on the spool housing,wherein the first longitudinal edge of the first spool of flexiblemembrane material is pulled through the opening to remove a firstpredetermined sheet portion of material from the first spool of flexiblemembrane material and wherein the first predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial is constructed and arranged as a barrier for protecting theequipment against predetermined storm conditions; and an anchoringmechanism adapted for being removably coupled to the first longitudinaledge of the first spool of flexible membrane material and for retainingthe first longitudinal edge of the first spool of flexible membranematerial on a ground surface located a predetermined horizontal distancefrom the base of the at least one piece of equipment.
 2. The equipmentstorm shield of claim 1, wherein the base includes a compliant rubberpad adapted to substantially conform to a top surface of the at leastone piece of equipment.
 3. The equipment storm shield of claim 1,wherein the spool housing includes a spring loaded tension mechanismadapted to provide a predetermined spring force to the first spool offlexible membrane material to permit the first spool of flexiblemembrane material to retract the first predetermined sheet portion ofmaterial.
 4. The equipment storm shield of claim 1, wherein the spoolhousing includes a hand cranking mechanism coupled to the first spool offlexible membrane material for permitting manual rotation of the handcranking mechanism to be transposed to the first spool of flexiblemembrane material to permit the first spool of flexible membranematerial to retract the first predetermined sheet portion of material.5. The equipment storm shield of claim 1, wherein the spool housingincludes a pivotably mounted access door that operates to seal theopening located on the spool housing when the equipment storm shield isnot in use.
 6. The equipment storm shield of claim 1, wherein the firstspool of flexible membrane material includes at least one of nylon,canvas, plastic, natural materials, synthetic materials, knittedmaterials, woven materials and chemically coated materials.
 7. Theequipment storm shield of claim 1, wherein the anchoring mechanismincludes an angle bracket.
 8. The equipment storm shield of claim 7,wherein the angle bracket includes a base portion having a plurality ofopenings each opening being adapted to accept an anchor spike operativeto securely retain the base portion of the angle bracket on the groundsurface.
 9. The equipment storm shield of claim 8, wherein the baseportion of the angle bracket further include a releasable attachmentmechanism adapted to engage and securely retain the first longitudinaledge of the first spool of flexible membrane material.
 10. The equipmentstorm shield of claim 9, wherein the angle bracket further includes asupport portion inclined at a predetermined angle from the base portionand being adapted to support the first predetermined portion of flexiblemembrane material at a predetermined angle.
 11. The equipment stormshield of claim 10, wherein the predetermined angle includes an angleranging from approximately 15-degrees to approximately 75-degrees. 12.The equipment storm shield of claim 1, wherein the first spool offlexible membrane material further includes a first adjacent edgeadapted for coupling to a second adjacent edge of a second spool offlexible membrane material associated with a second equipment stormshield for permitting at least the first predetermined sheet portion ofthe first spool of flexible membrane material to be coupled to a secondpredetermined sheet portion of a second spool of flexible membranematerial for substantially enclosing the at least one piece ofequipment.